Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass

February 7, 2027 - September 7, 2027

Exhibition Overview

Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass is a first-of- its-kind, groundbreaking exhibition giving broader and overdue recognition to a wide range of contemporary Native American and indigenous, Pacific-Rim artists working in glass. The importance, rarity, and excellence of this milestone event are not to be missed. Clearly Indigenous includes over 115 glass art objects created by twenty-nine Native American artists, four Pacific Rim artists from New Zealand and Australia, and leading glass artist Dale Chihuly, who first introduced glass art to Indian country.

The stunning art in the exhibition embodies the intellectual content of Native traditions, newly illuminated by the unique properties that can only be achieved by working with glass. Whether re-interpreting traditional stories and designs in the medium of glass, or expressing contemporary issues affecting tribal societies, Native glass artists have created a content-laden body of work. These artists have melded the aesthetics and properties inherent in glass art with their cultural ways of knowing.

A secondary focus of the exhibition—a historical perspective—presents the fascinating story of how glass art came to Indian country, mainly through the pioneering work of Lloyd Kiva New Cherokee), a founder of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), and of Dale Chihuly, who taught the first Native artists to work in glass. While Chihuly is not Native, he has long wielded a major influence on American Indian glass artists, and his own art has (in turn) taken inspiration from the designs and shapes of Native basketry and textiles. This comprehensive exhibition is the first of its kind to salute and document the sublime flowering of Native glass art.

Exhibiting Artists: Larry Ahvakana, Marcus Amerman, Angela Babby, Brian Barber, Dale Chihuly, Ivan Concha, Priscilla Cowie, Joe David, Alano Edzerza, Joe Feddersen, Dan Friday, Raya Friday, Gunybi Ganambarr, Tammy Garcia, Lewis Tamihana Gardiner, Tony Jojola, Ramson Lomatewama, Carol Lujan, Ira Lujan, Djambawa Marawili, Robert "Spooner" Marcus, Henry Martinez, Patrick Morrissey, Jody Naranjo, Ed Archie Noisecat, Ho-Wan-Ut "Haila" Old Peter, Marvin Oliver, Virgil Ortiz, Shaun Peterson, Lillian Pitt, Susan Point, Carl Ponca, Harlan Reano, Ryan Romero, Preston Singletary, Raven Skyriver, Adrian Wall

Lillian Pitt and Dan Friday. Ancestors Messages - Sally Bag #8, 2018. Blown glass; 16” x 13½” x 13½”. Image courtesy of Stonington Gallery. © Copyright Lillian Pitt.

Meet the Artists

 

Featured Images

 

Image Credits

  1. Lillian Pitt and Dan Friday. Spirit Voices - Sally Bag #8, 2018. Glass; 16¾” x 7½” x 7½”. Image courtesy of Stonington Gallery. © Copyright Lillian Pitt.

  2. Angela Babby. Supreme: Respect for the Two-Spirits, 2013. Kiln-fired vitreous enamel on glass mosaic on tile board; 20” x 16”. Image courtesy of Angela Babby. Photo by Angela Babby. © Angela Babby.

  3. Carol Lujan. Dancing Dragonflies, 2018. Cast glass; 12” x 24” x ¼”. Images courtesy of Carol Lujan. Photo by Stephen Lang. © Carol Lujan.

  4. Preston Singletary. Killer Whale Totem, 2018. Cast lead crystal; 36” x 11” x 8”. Image courtesy of Preston Singletary. Photograph by Russell Johnson. © Copyright Preston Singletary.

  5. Ed Archie Noisecat. Bringing Light to the World, 2019. Water jet-cut and fused glass; 23½” x 19¼” x 3”. Image courtesy of Hilary Brelsford. Photograph by Wendy McEahern. © Ed Archie Noisecat.

  6. Adrian Wall. The Story Teller, 2019. Stone and glass; 26” x 16” x 7”. Image courtesy of the artist. Photograph by Adrian Wall. © Adrian Wall.

  7. Robert “Spooner” Marcus. Blood Moon Moth, 2016. Blown glass; 20” x 9 in diameter. Image courtesy of Robert “Spooner” Marcus. Photograph by Kitty Leaken. © Copyright Robert “Spooner” Marcus.

  8. Larry Ahvakana. Scorpion, 1978. Blown glass; ivory, metal, 5” x 8” x 3”. Image courtesy of Tony Jojola. Photograph by Kitty Leaken. © Larry Ahvakana.

  9. Raven Skyriver. Mahi Mahi, 2017. Offhand sculpted glass; 16” x 31” x 19”. Images courtesy of Raven Skyriver. Photograph by KP Studios. © Raven Skyriver.

  10. Susan Point. Beaver Woman Transformation Spindly Whorl, 2000. Cast and etched glass with maple; 19” diameter. Image courtesy of Susan A. Point. © Susan A. Point.

  11. Dan Friday. Schaenewx (Salmon), 2019. Hand-blown and sculpted glass; 8” x 31” x 5”. Image courtesy of Blue Rain Gallery. Photograph by Ian Lewis. © Dan Friday.

  12. Alano Edzerza. House of the Mouse, 2006. Sandblasted glass and red cedar; 18.5” x 13”. Image courtesy of Stonington Gallery. Photograph by Ashley Genevieve. © Alano Edzerza.

Exhibition Credits

Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass was originated by the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Santa Fe, New Mexico, where it was curated by Dr. Letitia Chambers and Cathy Short (Potawatomi). The traveling exhibit was curated by Dr. Chambers and is toured by International Arts & Artists.